Even if coronavirus restrictions ease, many Americans remain wary of resuming everyday activities

Nearly half of Americans say they won’t be ready to return to public spaces until the coronavirus outbreak is over, even as Pennsylvanians learned Friday that restrictions have been eased in certain parts of the state.

According to a CBS News poll of 2,106 people, 48% of respondents said they would not be comfortable in public areas until they were confident the outbreak was over.

TribLive readers were equally split. In an unscientific poll of about 7,300 respondents, as of Thursday evening, 48% said they’ll feel comfortable with loosened restrictions in Southwest Pennsylvania come May 8. Another 42% said they weren’t comfortable with that, and 9% weren’t sure. Two percent said they didn’t know enough to have an opinion.

But Wolf didn’t end up easing certain restriction in the Southwestern region. That was limited to Northwestern and North-Central counties.

Even with fewer restrictions on travel and shopping, dubbed the yellow phase by state officials, restaurants remain take-out only and gatherings of more than 25 people are still be banned.

Residents’ reactions mixed

People interviewed in the hours after the governor’s decision was announced had differing takes.

Kate Manka of Murrysville is ready for the state to open back up.

“People who haven’t received assistance are trying to put food on the table and pay bills,” Manka said. “Jobs like home assessments and real estate aren’t allowed even though those jobs can certainly be done while following safety criteria.”

Ingrid Streussnig of Penn Hills would like to see more people headed back to work, but isn’t surprised that the area remains in the red, given the high population density.

“I was hoping some personal-service businesses could reopen under guidelines,” she said. “So many in Allegheny, from coworkers to neighbors, are being selfish and not following (health) protocol. I see it happening almost every day. They are very possibly the reason why we’re in this position.”

According to a Civic Science poll, 53% of people said they would be comfortable going to a small gathering at a friend’s or family member’s house within a month of restrictions being lifted, while 35% said it would take them up to five months to be comfortable.

Respondents felt differently about large gatherings: 35% of people said they’d be comfortable in under a month’s time, and 44% said it would take up to five months.

Murrysville Councilwoman Jamie Lee Korns said she’s frustrated by and disappointed by the direction coming from the governor .

“Despite the fact that (Westmoreland County meets) the governor’s own criteria for reopening, he has failed to balance the needs of citizens in a number of counties by adding seemingly arbitrary additional restrictions now, that provide no clarity,” Lee Korns said.

Health officials say the incidence of new cases isn’t the only metric they’re looking at.

Expanded virus testing, sufficient hospital capacity and the ability to quickly identify and contain flareups through what’s known as contact tracing must also be in place. They also pointed to population density Friday as a factor for the first time.The state Department of Health will also use a new modeling tool by Carnegie Mellon University to help officials decide when a region is ready to reopen.

Jennifer Strohl of O’Hara supports the governor’s call to hold off on reopening Allegheny County.

“I think he’s making a good decision,” Strohl said. “If you open up too early, all you’re going to do is go back (to a worse time). It’s a very populated area.”

Ryan Lewis of Rayne Township, Indiana County said Wolf is wasting time for business owners and people need to go back to work.

“It’s terrible news,” Lewis said. “Friends, family, people are suffering right now. I think it’s all part of some big government game and they need to chill with all this coronavirus crap. … ‘Green light’ all this. America needs this. Everyone needs it.”

Karima Michalak, of Fox Chapel, said her family is in no rush to try to resume life pre-covid-19.

“We’re not in a hurry,” she said. “Safety comes first. Just because we’re wearing masks (and) there’s more people that are out thinking they are safe, we are not. As long as we have what we need, food, (we’re fine). I don’t need my hair done every month or my nails.

“I don’t need a massage. I need safety.”